Januvia and Janumet

Januvia and Janumet are prescription drugs that belong to a group of Type 2 diabetes drugs called incretin therapies. These drugs work by signaling the pancreas to create more insulin and decreasing the sugar made by the liver. They come in several different dosages.

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Januvia and Janumet Drug Facts

Used to TreatType 2 diabetes

Related DrugsVictoza, Nesina, Onglyza, Byetta

Black Box WarningsJanumet for lactic acidosis

FDA Safety CommunicationsPancreatitis, joint pain

Active IngredientSitagliptin or sitagliptin and metformin

FDA ApprovalJanuvia 2006, Janumet 2007

Januvia (sitagliptin) is an oral Type 2 diabetes medication manufactured by Merck & Co. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug in 2006, and it is one of the most popular Type 2 diabetes drugs on the market. In 2007, the FDA approved a variation of Januvia called Janumet, which is a combination of sitagliptin and metformin. Janumet also comes in an extended release formula called Janumet XR.

Both Januvia and Janumet belong to a class of drugs called dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors that work by helping the body produce more insulin. Januvia was the first DPP-4 approved by the FDA and is the top-selling brand in its class. With two million prescriptions written in 2011, analysts expected Januvia to eventually produce multi-billion dollar sales numbers. Januvia brought in about $6 billion in 2014. Merck stands to benefit from the patent on the drug until 2022.

Drug fact

Januvia and Janumet are known as dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors that work by helping the body produce more insulin.

How Do Januvia and Janumet Work?

Januvia is designed to work with other Type 2 diabetes medications, like Byetta, to increase their effectiveness. It helps lower blood sugar in two ways. It helps the body increase insulin to stabilize blood sugar and decrease sugars that are made in the liver. It is a part of the class of diabetes medications called DPP-4 inhibitors. DPP-4 is a protein made by the body that plays a role in glucose metabolism.

The process works like this: After a person eats and blood sugar rises, intestinal cells release hormones called incretin hormones. Incretin stimulates pancreatic cells called beta cells to release insulin to metabolize sugar and signals the liver to stop making excess sugar. In people without diabetes, DPP-4 breaks down incretin to keep blood sugar and insulin levels balanced. For people with diabetes, too much sugar is already in the blood.

These drugs block DPP-4, allowing incretin to stay in the blood longer and to continue stimulating the pancreas into make more insulin to remove excess sugar.

A simplified breakdown of how DDP-4 Inhibitors work

Janumet is similar to Januvia, except it contains metformin. So, in addition to stimulating the body to produce more insulin like Januvia does, the metformin in Janumet decreases the glucose produced by the liver and decreases the absorption of glucose by the intestines.

How Effective are Januvia and Janumet?

About 5,200 people participated in the initial clinical trials for Januvia. The majority of study participants were white and the average age was 55. Both Januvia and Janumet reduced blood sugar in clinical trials.

An A1C (glucose level in the blood) measurement of 7 percent or lower is ideal for people with Type 2 diabetes. In one study with 1,262 patients who took Januvia for 18 weeks or 24 weeks, researchers found 100 mg daily lowered A1C by .7 percent and .8 percent respectively.

Fact

An A1C (glucose level in the blood) measurement of 7 percent or lower is ideal for people with Type 2 diabetes.

Januvia also reduced fasting plasma glucose (FPG) by about 13 points in people who started with an FPG of 180. A normal FPG is 100 or lower.

In clinical studies for Janumet, researchers did not actually use Janumet. They obtained their data by administering sitagliptin and metformin. They found using both drugs lowered AIC and FPG more than using either drug alone.

A1C levels dropped about 1.4 percent in patients with a starting A1C of 8.8 percent who took 50 mg sitagliptin and 500 mg of metformin twice daily. It dropped 1.9 percent in those with a starting A1C of 8.8 percent who took 50 mg sitagliptin and 1000 mg metformin twice daily.

Side Effects

In clinical trials, researchers reported the most common side effects that occurred in 5 percent or more of patients taking Januvia include nasopharyngitis (common cold), respiratory tract infections and headaches. Januvia may also come with more rare but serious side effects.

Patients should consult their doctor immediately if they experience any serious Januvia side effects. This is not a complete list of side effects. Always speak to a doctor or health care provider for more information.

Common side effects of Januvia include:

Nausea

Diarrhea

Constipation

Elevated liver enzymes

Swelling of hands or legs

Headache

Upper respiratory infection

Stuffy or runny nose

Sore throat

Back pain

Serious Januvia side effects include:

Pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas that can cause vomiting, fast heart rate, nausea, stomach and back pain)

Fatal and nonfatal necrotizing pancreatitis (tissue in the pancreas dies and causes an infection, usually a more severe form of acute pancreatitis)

Janumet Side Effects and Black Box Warning

Because Janumet is a combination medication, it has the side effect risks of Januvia plus metformin. In people who took Janumet, the most common side effects that occurred in 5 percent or more of clinical trial participants include diarrhea, headache and respiratory infections. More people who took Janumet instead of Januvia experienced low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and gastrointestinal issues such as gas, indigestion and abdominal discomfort.

Because Janumet is made with metformin, it carries a black box warning for lactic acidosis. This condition occurs when lactic acid accumulates in the bloodstream. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling cold in hands and feet, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, weakness and nausea. People who suffer from lactic acidosis should seek medical care immediately.

FDA Warnings and Post-Market Safety Studies

The most serious side effects associated with Januvia and Janumet are acute pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer. While there may have been some signals of these side effects in initial clinical trials, it wasn’t until independent researchers studied these side effects and more patients reported issues that the FDA began to look into the potential risks.

In 2011, the FDA received almost 200 reports of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to Januvia and Janumet — some of which were fatal. In March 2013, the agency announced it was gathering more data on Januvia’s link to pancreatitis and possible pancreatic cancer. In July 2013, the FDA said it there was no cause for concern with safety risks in a new study linking Januvia and other DPP-4’s to pancreatitis. But the agency said its review was ongoing.

In 2015, the FDA warned that Januvia and Janumet could cause severe joint pain. The time of onset of the pain, which can be disabling, can vary from just one day to years after beginning drug treatment. Some patients experienced a recurrence of symptoms after the stopping the drug and restarting it, or starting a different drug in the same class of DPP-4 inhibitors.

Dosage Strengths and Recommendations

Januvia and Janumet come in a variety of dosages, depending on each individual’s needs for glucose control. These drugs are not meant to treat people with Type 1 diabetes. People who have excess toxins known as ketones in the blood or urine — a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis — should not take Januvia or Janumet.

Januvia Dosages

The recommended starting dose of Januvia is 100 mg once daily with or without food. Depending on the patient, the prescribing health care provider may adjust the dose. People with a history of serious allergic reactions to sitagliptin should not take Januvia.

Because the kidneys filter Januvia out of the body, people whose kidneys are not fully functioning should not take Januvia. The recommended dose for people with moderate kidney insufficiency is 50 mg and 25 mg for patients with end-stage kidney disease that requires dialysis. Health care providers should test a patient’s kidney function before starting Januvia.

Januvia 25 mg pill sitagliptin

Januvia 50 mg pill sitagliptin

Januvia 100 mg pill sitagliptin

Janumet Dosages

Janumet dosages are customized for each patient, but should not exceed 100 mg sitagliptin/2000 mg metformin. The recommended starting dose is 50 mg sitagliptin/500 mg metformin. Patients should take Janumet twice daily with meals, and dose increases should be gradual to minimize gastrointestinal side effects from metformin.

Like Januvia, the proper functioning kidneys are necessary to filter Janumet out of the body. Patients with severe kidney problems should not take Janumet.

Janumet 50 mg sitagliptin/500 mg metformin

Janumet 50 mg sitagliptin/1000 mg metformin

Drug Interactions

According to the medication inserts of Januvia and Janumet, there are few drug interactions. But these drugs were not tested with every drug that could react with them.

Patients should use caution when taking Januvia or Janumet with medications known to cause hypoglycemia, or abnormally low blood sugar levels, such as sulfonylurea and insulin. It has been shown in clinical studies that when these types of drugs are used together with Januvia or Janumet, the incidence of hypoglycemia was increased over that of placebos (dummy pills) used in combination with the same.

Michelle Llamas has been writing articles and producing podcasts about drugs, medical devices and the FDA for seven years. She specializes in fluoroquinolone antibiotics and products that affect women’s health such as Essure birth control, transvaginal mesh and talcum powder. Michelle collaborates with experts, including board-certified doctors, patients and advocates, to provide trusted health information to the public. Some of her qualifications include:

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